Altham St James Church of England Primary School, Accrington

Ofsted's report card from its 10 March 2026 inspection grades Altham St James Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils at this school rarely miss a day."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Across the curriculum, pupils typically achieve well."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have established an ambitious curriculum from the early years to Year 6."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders make sure that children in the early years mostly secure the important foundations for their future learning."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders get to know pupils and their families quickly."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors have an accurate view of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a well-structured personal, social, health and economic education curriculum that supports all pupils well."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "In a small number of subjects, leaders should identify the important knowledge that pupils need to acquire more clearly"; "Leaders should make sure that, in a small number of subjects, the important concepts that children need to understand are clearly defined so that staff can share these definitions consistently with pupils to help pupils' understanding"; "Leaders should ensure that the important records that they make about the school's work are complete so that governors can check leaders' actions and hold them to account effectively".

In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Altham St James Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (73% in reading, 82% in maths).

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 9 families put Altham St James Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 44 named it as one of their preferences, for 11 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Altham St James Church of England Primary School are Simonstone St Peter's Church of England Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 87% reading, 87% maths); Read St John's CofE Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 87% reading, 83% maths); Accrington Huncoat Primary School (1.4 miles, 72% reading, 68% maths); and St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Clayton-le-Moors (1.5 miles, Good, 68% reading, 73% maths).

Altham St James Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

33 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Altham St James Church of England Primary School (as of April 2026): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).

7.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 4 pupils (4.8%) received SEN support and 3 (3.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.

Altham St James Church of England Primary School had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Huncoat Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St James CEPS (by), 20 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other theft and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).

Altham St James Church of England Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.